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This time of year, it’s common for people to get sick in all sorts of ways. Let’s learn some Swahili vocabulary and expressions to help you talk about how you feel.

Mimi ni mgonjwa. I’m sick.

Let’s start with some general expressions and ways to talk about your symptoms.

• Sijisikii vizuri.
  I don’t feel well.
• Nadhani nagonjeka.
  I think I’m getting sick.

• Mimi ni mgonjwa.
  I’m sick.
• Nina mafua.
  I have a cold.
• Nina kikohozi.
  I have a cough.
• Pua limefungana/limeziba.
  I have congestion/a stuffed nose.
• Naumwa na kichwa.
  I have a headache.
• Nina homa.
  I have a fever.
• Nahisi kichefuchefu.
  I feel nauseated.
• Sina nguvu.
  I have no energy.
• Siwezi enda kazini leo.
  I can’t go to work today.
• Siwezi enda shuleni leo.
  I can’t go to school today.

Nina kikohozi kibaya. I have a bad cough.

Kikohozi (a cough) is a pretty common symptom of all sorts of sicknesses. 

• Nina mwasho kwenye koo.
  I have a sore throat. 
• Nakohoa sana.
  I’m coughing a lot.
• Sikulala vizuri  kwa sababu nilikohoa sana usiku mzima.
  I didn’t sleep well, because I coughed all night.
• Mapafu yangu yamefungana.
  My lungs are congested.
• Nahitaji kuchukua dawa ya kikohozi.
  I need to take cough syrup.
• Una matone ya kikohozi?
  Do you have cough drops?
• Ninapoteza sauti yangu kwa sababu ninakohoa sana.
  I’m losing my voice because I’m coughing so much.

Nina pua ambalo imeziba. I have a stuffy nose.

The other really common symptom of being sick is a stuffy or runny nose. 

• Pua yangu imefungana/imeziba.
  My nose is congested/stuffed.
• Ninahitaji karatasi shashi.
  I need a tissue.
• Ninahitaji kufuta pua.
  I need to blow my nose.
• Nahitaji kununua dawa ya kutuliza mishipa.
  I need to buy a decongestant. 
• Siwezi kupumua kupitia pua.
  I can’t breathe through my nose.
• Napiga chafya sana.
  I sneeze a lot.
• Pua yangu inanitia wazimu.
  My nose is driving me crazy.

Ninaumwa na kichwa. I have a headache. 

Kuumwa kichwa (a headache) or kuumwa mwili (body aches) are also pretty common when you’re sick.

• Naumwa kichwa sana.
  I have a terrible headache.
• Kichwa changu kinapiga.
  My head is pounding.
• Uko na aspirini?
  Do you have aspirin?
• Niliishiwa aspirini.
  I ran out of aspirin.
• Nahitaji kulala chini.
  I need to lie down.
• Nina kipandauso.
  I have a migraine. 
• Naumwa na mwili.
  I have body aches. 

Nina homa. I have a fever. 

If you’re sick it’s important to know if you have homa (a fever).

• Nafikiri nina homa.
  I think I have a fever.
• Ninahisi una joto.
  You feel very warm to me.
• Unahitaji kupima temprecha.
  You need to check/take your temperature.
• Uko na kipima joto?
  Do you have a thermometer?
• Uko na homa ya chini.
  You have a low fever.
• Uko na homa ya juu.
  You have a high fever.
• Unahitaji kupunguza joto.
  You need to lower your temperature.
• Homa yangu ilipanda/ilishuka.
  My fever broke.

Naenda kutapika. I’m going to throw up.

There are lots of other unpleasant symptoms that you may need to describe.

• Nina kizunguzungu.
  I’m dizzy.
• Naenda kuzimia.
  I’m going to faint.
• Nina kichefuchefu.
  I’m nauseated.
• Naenda kutapika.
  I’m going to vomit.
• Naendesha.
  I have diarrhea. 
• Ninahisi baridi.
  I have chills./I feel cold.
• Ninatoa jasho.
  I’m sweating.
• Nimepoteza hisia ya harufu.
  I’ve lost my sense of smell.
• Nimepoteza hisia ya kuonja.
  I’ve lost my sense of taste.

Niko kwa afisi ya daktari. At the doctor’s office

If you’re sick and it’s not going away, you need to go to the doctor. 

• Umeenda kuona daktari?
  Have you gone to see the doctor?
• Nahitaji kuwa na mpango wa ufwatiliyaji na daktari.
  I need to make a doctor’s appointment.
• Muuguzi huchukua shinikizo la damu yangu.
  The nurse takes my blood pressure.
• Daktari aliangalia kwenye koo langu na masikio.
  The doctor looked in my throat and ears.
• Dalili zako ni gani?
  What are your symptoms?
• Una maambukizi.
  You have an infection.
• Una mafua.
  You have the flu.
• Una bronchiti.
  You have bronchitis.
• Una kisamayu.
  You have pneumonia. 
• Unahitaji kiuavijasumu.
  You need antibiotics.
• Hapa kuna amri ya matumizi dawa.
  Here is a prescription. 
• Unahitaji kujitenga.
  You need to isolate yourself.
• Usifanye mtu yeyote agonjeke.
  Don’t get anyone else sick.
• Unahitaji kupumzika.
  You need to rest.
• Unahitaji kunywa vinywaji vingi.
  You need to drink a lot of fluids.
• Naende kukupima damu.
  I’m going to do blood tests on you.
• Unahitaji exrai.
  You need an X-ray.

Pata nafuu hivi karibuni. Get Better Soon!

If you’re not sick but know someone who is, you may want to know how to say:

• Unahisi vizuri leo?
  Are you feeling any better today?
• Umekuwa mgonjwa muda gani?
  How long have you been sick?
• Unahitaji kwenda kwa daktari.
  You need to go to the doctor.
• Usinifanye mgonjwa!
  Don’t get me sick!
• Naweza leta chochote?
  Can I bring you anything?
• Natumai utahisi vyema.
  I hope you feel better!
• Pona haraka!
  Get well soon!

Do you want to learn Swahili?

Check out our other posts on Swahili language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Swahili lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage Swahili. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work. We can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!